What Scan to BIM means
Scan to BIM is the process of turning a 3D laser scan or SLAM capture of a real building, plant or site into a Building Information Model: a set of real, editable objects (walls, floors, columns, ducts, pipes, equipment) with true dimensions and positions, usually delivered in Autodesk Revit (.rvt) and the open IFC format. A point cloud is a photograph made of millions of measured dots. A BIM model is something you can select, measure, schedule, clash-check and design against.
Traditionally the conversion is manual: a modeler links the point cloud into Revit and traces each element by hand, which is why Scan to BIM projects are usually quoted in weeks and priced per square foot. Moving Atoms automates the conversion end to end and delivers in 48 hours.
What you get back
- Every object separated. Not one fused mesh: each pump, vessel, wall, door, rack, cable tray and pipe run is its own element you can select, move, hide or replace.
- Measured in the scan's own coordinates. The model lines up with your point cloud, so you can overlay one on the other and check it.
- The formats your team uses. Revit (.rvt), IFC, STEP, USD and GLB. Revit and IFC for your BIM team and facilities management; USD and GLB for digital twins and robot simulation.
- The level of development you need. Pick LOD 200, 300, 350, 400 or 500 when you upload. See Scan to BIM LOD levels explained.
- Delivery within 48 hours of receiving your scan, tracked in your dashboard from review to delivery.
How it works
- Upload. Drag your point cloud onto the uploader. Any scanner and any common format, up to 200 GB per file. Uploads go straight to private storage and resume if your connection drops.
- Choose the output. Tell us what you need back (Revit, IFC, USD, GLB) and the LOD.
- We rebuild the site. Geometry is reconstructed from the points, then the scene is separated into individual objects, each measured and labelled.
- Review and download. Your dashboard shows each step. Open the model in Revit, your CDE or a digital twin.
Supported scanners and file formats
| Input | Formats |
|---|---|
| Point clouds | E57, LAS, LAZ, PLY, PTS, PTX, PCD, XYZ, RCP, RCS, POD, BPF |
| Scanner-native projects | FARO (.fls), Leica (.lgsx), RIEGL (.rdbx), XGRIDS (.lcc), NavVis exports |
| Meshes and 3D | OBJ, FBX, GLB/glTF, STL, USD/USDZ |
| Existing CAD and BIM | IFC, RVT, RFA, DWG, DXF, STEP |
| Archives | ZIP, 7z, TAR and more, up to 200 GB per file |
Terrestrial laser scanners, mobile and handheld SLAM, backpack systems and even phone LiDAR all work. Our public samples include a NavVis mobile capture of a factory and phone captures from Niantic Spatial.
See finished Scan to BIM models
Every sample in our LiDAR samples shows the raw scan and the delivered model from the same camera, and several include a Revit 2027 download:
- Process plant, Rotterdam. A NavVis scan separated into 89 objects: pumps, vessels, heat exchangers, stairs, guardrails and pipe networks.
- Factory floor. A NavVis capture of a production bay with racking, IBC totes, conveyors, a forklift and pipework. Revit model available.
- Workshop and medical warehouse. Phone captures from Niantic Spatial rebuilt as hundreds of individually editable assets. Revit models available.
Who uses Scan to BIM
- Architects and engineers documenting existing conditions before a renovation or fit-out.
- General contractors checking as-built against design and coordinating MEP clashes.
- Owners and facilities teams who need an accurate model of plants, warehouses and labs for maintenance and space planning.
- Industrial and process sites with dense pipework where manual modeling is slowest.
- Robotics and automation teams who need the same site as a SimReady world to test robots before deployment.
On-site processing for sensitive sites
For plants, defense, pharma and other sites where scan data cannot leave the building, we bring the compute to your facility and run the full conversion locally. The scan never leaves the site, and you still get the model within 48 hours.
How Moving Atoms compares
Most Scan to BIM options are either software that helps your own team model faster, or a modeling firm that does it by hand. See the full Scan to BIM software and services comparison, or a specific head-to-head:
- vs Autodesk ReCap + RevitRegistration and manual modeling in Revit vs a finished model.
- vs ClearEdge3D EdgeWiseAssisted feature extraction vs a done-for-you model.
- vs FARO As-Built for RevitAn in-Revit modeling plug-in vs a delivered model.
- vs Matterport BIM filesMatterport-captured LOD 200 vs any scanner, LOD 200 to 500.
- vs outsourced modeling firmsWeeks of manual tracing vs 48 hours.
- All alternativesLeica Cyclone 3DR, Pointfuse and more in one table.
Send us a scan and get separated, editable Revit and IFC objects back within 48 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is Scan to BIM?
Scan to BIM is the process of converting a 3D laser scan or SLAM point cloud of an existing building or site into a Building Information Model (BIM): editable objects such as walls, pipes and equipment with real dimensions, usually delivered in Revit and IFC.
How long does Scan to BIM take with Moving Atoms?
Within 48 hours of receiving your scan. Traditional manual Scan to BIM is usually quoted in weeks because a modeler traces each element by hand.
Which scanners and file formats do you accept?
Any scanner. Point clouds in E57, LAS, LAZ, PLY, PTS, PTX, RCP and RCS; scanner-native FARO, Leica, RIEGL, XGRIDS and NavVis exports; meshes; and zipped projects up to 200 GB per file.
What file formats do you deliver?
Revit (.rvt), IFC, STEP, USD and GLB. Every object is delivered as a separate, editable element.
Which LOD can you deliver?
You choose LOD 200, 300, 350, 400 or 500 when you upload. LOD 300 is the most common choice for existing-conditions models.
Can the conversion run without the data leaving our site?
Yes. For sensitive sites we bring the compute on-site and run the conversion locally, so the scan never leaves the building.
How much does Scan to BIM cost?
We quote per site based on area, complexity and LOD. For typical market rates and what drives them, see our Scan to BIM cost guide.